HC Deb 06 February 1913 vol 48 cc18-9
26. Mr. REDDY

asked why, in King's County Catholic district, magistrates of the Protestant denomination are in the proportion of twelve to one Catholic; and why A. H. Howard, J.P., of Strawberry Hill, Cloghan, can adjudicate at the Petty Sessions Courts of Moystown and Ferbane, whilst Catholic and Nationalist magistrates in the same area are strictly confined to one district?

Mr. RUSSELL

It is not understood what is meant by the expression King's County Catholic district. The Lord Chancellor informs me that there are forty-three Roman Catholics and eighty-three Protestants holding the Commission of the Peace for the King's County. Most of the Roman Catholic magistrates in the Petty Sessions districts referred to are entitled to sit at more than one Petty Sessions.

Mr. REDDY

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me how many of the forty-six are dead, and also how many of the forty-three Roman Catholics are Unionists?

Mr. RUSSELL

I am unable to answer either of those questions.

Mr. REDDY

Then I will ask another question: Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me on whose recommendation Mr. Howard was appointed as a magistrate for the King's County?

Mr. RUSSELL

I am not able to give an answer.

Mr. REDDY

Then can the right hon. Gentleman tell me how it is that, all the Petty Sessions districts in the Birr Division of the King's County are made the dumping ground of Unionists and carrion crows?

Mr. DUFFY

asked whether any complaints have reached the Irish Government regarding the preponderance on the magisterial bench in Ireland of men completely out of sympathy with the views of the great majority of the Irish people; are the people entitled to any direct representation on the magisterial bench; how the views of the people are to be conveyed to the Lord Chancellor; and is there any law, written or otherwise, which entitles the Lord Chancellor to insist upon the maintenance of a bench three-fourths of whom are strongly opposed to the people to whom they interpret the law?

Mr. RUSSELL

My right hon. Friend is aware that the appointment of magistrates fails to give general satisfaction. The Lord Chancellor informs me that he is very anxious that all classes should be adequately represented. As he has previously stated, the Lord Chancellor is always prepared to consider suitable names submitted to him from any representative source.

Mr. REDDY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Lord Rosse, the Lord Lieutenant of King's County, on accepting the appointment of Lord Lieutenant, promised Lord Aberdeen that he would make no political or popular appointments; he told me that?

31. Mr. VINCENT KENNEDY

asked how many copies of Return No. 396, issued on 16th December, 1912, have been distributed to date?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Masterman)

The Return was ordered by the House on the 16th December, and issued on the 21st January; 569 copies have been distributed.

Mr. KENNEDY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Return deals with magistrates in Ireland, and does he not think something should be done to set the minds of the Irish people at rest, owing to the unfairness of the present distribution of magistrates?

Mr. MASTERMAN

The Return is available for the Irish people whenever they want to see it.

Mr. KENNEDY

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that I have personally shown that this Return is inaccurate?

Mr. MASTERMAN

I know nothing about the Return. The answer gives the number that has been distributed.